24 June 2019
Excellent on all fronts – a real home from home. Enjoyed all the excursions, very much. Tailored to all abilities, weather and interests where Rob briefed us after dinner about the following day’s itinerary and tucked us into places we would not be able to reach by Ferry or car. He also made significant effort to provide the opportunity to spend optimal time on St. Kilda considering the weather window. Mags was a wonderful Chef catering with consideration to likes/dislikes/allergies. The food was wonderful especially as it was mostly locally sourced. We loved the cheese boards and also a fantastic Birthday Cake for Nick!! Craig – never stopped smiling and nothing was too much trouble. Nigel was enthusiastic and happy to pass on his knowledge and camera skills, plus he knew where to find the wildlife and flora for us to practice these. He was a great guide and we all enjoyed his after diner talks. Rob – looked after us and as a local had some marvelous stories and in-depth knowledge of all the areas we visited. He was empathetic to the needs of all the guests. The other passengers on our trip were great and also happy to share their knowledge of the wildlife/flora. We also appreciated the reference books and much friendly discussion ensued around the daily sightings. It was a trip of a lifetime that lived up to our expectations - It had to be the Elizabeth G for us!
Nick Turton
We were so pleased with the charter booking from the initial emails inquiring about dates available to the last minute questions and timely responses as we prepared to head to Scotland. Emma is professional, kind, and prompt in responding by email. We appreciate good customer service and yours is excellent. Since this was our second cruise with Skipper James and the Emma Jane, we knew what to expect about anchorages and visiting the islands. However, this cruise exceeded any expectations we had. We enjoyed returning to some islands we had previously visited and seeing new places. We continue to be overwhelmed by our visit to St. Kilda (thank you, Skipper James!) and seeing the many, many species and numbers of birds throughout the cruise that were not around in these numbers in September 2017. James knows much about all aspects of the Hebrides; if he doesn’t know an answer, he says that he doesn’t know. I like that. Will was knowledgeable about cetaceans, birds, plants, and extremely helpful to those of us who decided to take some of the walks that included narrow and muddy trails with steep inclines. He was available to offer a hand or arm to steady us as we hiked up and down the hills. Anchoring in protected areas overnight is an extraordinary experience—the quiet, the skies, the gentle rocking of the vessel. All ten of us on this charter live on bodies of water—bays, lakes, ocean. Anchoring in coves next to small villages or near an unpopulated island is special. The cruise was extra special. We were made to feel welcomed back and our friends from New Hampshire were thrilled with their experiences seeing the Hebrides and the wildlife, scenery, remoteness, and the comfort of the Emma Jane.
Angela & David Hiley: 8 June 2019Private Charter 10 Nights